The N.C. Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabili-ties and Substance Abuse Services reminds everyone that alcohol is still the most widely used and abused drug in the United States and the third highest cause of preventable deaths.
According to the Alcohol/Drug Council of North Carolina, more than 3.2 million North Carolinians are either directly or indirectly affected by alcohol abuse. Experts estimate that alcohol abuse can reduce life expectancy by as much as 10 years.
Flo Stein, chief of community policy management for the Division of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities and Substance Abuse Services, says drinkers and nondrinkers alike have their lives impacted because of alcohol abuse.
In fact, studies show that the children of alcoholics are four times more likely to become alcoholics than children of people who are not alcohol dependent.
“In 2003 alone, three out of four people with substance use disorders were also on the job working,” Stein says. “That’s not a safe working environment for them — or us. Addiction remains the most common problem for employees in most workplaces. It accounts for 20 percent of voluntary employee assistance referrals to treatment and 50 percent of the supervisory referrals. It’s a problem that all of us have a stake in trying to solve.”
Stein says the most common symptoms of alcohol dependence include:
- Believing that alcohol is necessary to have fun.
- Lying about how much alcohol a person is consuming.
- Blackouts during or after drinking.
- Drinking on a regular basis, not necessarily to inebriation.
In North Carolina, residents can call the Alcohol and Drug Council of North Carolina for help at (919) 493-0003 or reach it at www.alcoholdrughelp.org to find help in your local area. Additional sources for more information:
- ww.stopalcoholabuse.gov
- SAMHSA’s National Clear-inghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information, (800) 729-6686 or online at www.ncadi.samhsa.gov
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, www. niaaa.nih.gov
- Cool Spot at www.thecool spot.gov
- Leadership to Keep Children Alcohol Free at www. alcoholfree children.org
- U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools — www.ed. gov/about/offices/list/osdfs/index .html.
